If you hold a Nebraska physician assistant license, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (Board of Medicine and Surgery) gives you two ways to satisfy continuing competency: complete 50 hours of Category 1 CME in the 24 months before renewal, or meet the NCCPA re-registration requirements within that same window. PA licenses renew biennially and expire October 1 of odd-numbered years. Nebraska also requires opioid-prescribing CME for PAs who prescribe controlled substances. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
50 hours / 2 years
Fifty Category 1 CME hours each biennial cycle, or keep NCCPA certification current.
Opioid prescribing (3 hours)
Three hours on prescribing opiates each cycle for controlled-substance prescribers (0.5 hour on the PDMP).
25-hour carryover
Up to 25 extra hours may carry forward to the next renewal period.
Renews Oct 1 (odd years)
PA licenses renew biennially and expire October 1 of odd-numbered years.
How many CME hours Nebraska PAs need
Nebraska requires 50 hours of Category 1 CME every two years, approved by the ACCME, the AOA, or the AAPA. As an alternative, you may satisfy continuing competency by meeting the NCCPA re-registration requirements within the 24 months before your license expires. Hours must be earned in the two-year period immediately preceding expiration, and up to 25 excess hours may carry over to the next cycle.
Opioid and controlled-substance requirement
- Opioid prescribing: PAs who prescribe controlled substances must complete at least 3 hours each renewal on prescribing opiates, including addiction risks and emergency opioid situations.
- PDMP component: at least 0.5 hour of those 3 hours must address the Nebraska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
- PAs who do not prescribe controlled substances are exempt from this requirement.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Nebraska PA licenses renew biennially and expire on October 1 of odd-numbered years. Complete and document your 50 hours (or your NCCPA re-registration) within the 24 months before that date.
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View pricingNebraska Physician Assistants (PA) CME at a glance
- Opioid / Controlled Substance Prescribing3 hrs · every renewal
PAs who prescribe controlled substances must complete at least 3 hours on prescribing opiates each renewal cycle, including the risks and indicators of opioid addiction and emergency opioid situations. At least 0.5 hour must address the Nebraska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). PAs who do not prescribe controlled substances are exempt.
Always confirm with your licensing board
Nebraska physician assistant licenses renew biennially and expire October 1 of odd-numbered years. To renew, a PA must either complete 50 hours of Category 1 CME in the 24 months before expiration or meet the NCCPA re-registration (recertification) requirements within that same 24-month window. Up to 25 unused hours may be carried over to the next renewal period.
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (Board of Medicine and Surgery) before relying on these figures.
Source: Nebraska Board of Medicine and Surgery. Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
Licensed in more than one state?
PA Licensure Compact: enacted but not yet active. Enacted by enough states and a commission is standing up, but NOT yet issuing the compact privilege — PAs still license state-by-state.
Each state license carries its own CME requirement and renewal date — if you hold more than one, you need a plan for each.
Also licensing in Nebraska or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Nebraska Physician Assistant CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do Nebraska PAs need?
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50 hours of Category 1 CME every two years, or you may instead maintain current NCCPA certification by meeting its re-registration requirements.
Does Nebraska require opioid CME for PAs?
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Yes — PAs who prescribe controlled substances must complete at least 3 hours each cycle on prescribing opiates, including 0.5 hour on the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Non-prescribers are exempt.
Can I carry over extra CME hours in Nebraska?
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Yes — up to 25 hours earned beyond the 50-hour requirement may be carried over to the next renewal period.
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